上行下效

Pronunciation: shàng xíng xià xiào Literal meaning: Above acts, below imitates

Origin & Usage

Duke Huan of Qi liked purple, so the court wore purple, so the whole state wanted purple and the price of the dye went to five times that of plain cloth. Guan Zhong told him to say at court that he disliked the smell of it and to turn away anyone wearing it. Within three days, Han Feizi reports, nobody in the capital was in purple. Those above act (上行) and those below copy (下效) — the phrase is usually a warning, and the story is unusual in showing the mechanism used deliberately to undo itself.

Examples

English: "When the leader demonstrates integrity, it inspires the entire team to follow suit."

Chinese: 当领导展现诚信时，整个团队都受到鼓舞。